SWAFFHAM, on the back of a win over Fakenham A, host Alliance Division Three's bottom team Thetford this weekend.

Swaffham travelled to Fakenham A short of a few regular players but still managed to win with 10 overs to spare.

SWAFFHAM, on the back of a win over Fakenham A, host Alliance Division Three's bottom team Thetford this weekend.

Swaffham travelled to Fakenham A short of a few regular players but still managed to win with 10 overs to spare.

Skipper Richard Yates, on the day he was announced an MBE, won the toss and opted to insert the opposition.

Fakenham got off to a racing start, Clark bowled better than his figures suggest and although Smith bowled a tight opening spell, the captain's decision looked to have backfired. Hoddy was thrown the ball and removed dangerman Whitwood, despite a hint of controversy, and Swaffham slowly began to reduce the run rate.

Yet, after the drinks interval Fakenham were 130-2 with the overseas player Tharaka well set, a challenging total looked like being set. But Gricks took the wicket of captain Preston and wickets began to tumble.

The crucial breakthrough was the wicket of Tharaka, after reverse slogging his previous ball for four he hit a swirling shot down the ground and was caught with a superb effort from Michael Dye, off the bowling of his father Maurice, for 61.

Maurice continued to take wickets and finished with 4-28 and was unlucky not to claim a hat-trick after a close lbw appeal.

Swaffham restricted Fakenham to 198 and a strong fielding display which included three run-outs and several good catches was a crucial factor.

The new opening partnership of Walsh and Boardman went out to bat and had to contend with a slow outfield after showers.

But after playing themselves in both batted superbly against all the bowlers and put on 113 for the first wicket, before Walsh ran himself out for 56 after a suicidal second run, a possible 10-wicket win had looked to be on the cards.

The wickets of Gricks, caught, and Eagle, lbw, left Swaffham 140-3 but Yates entered the fray and along with Boardman, batting with great aplomb, Swaffham moved quickly towards the target.

Unfortunately, with only 17 needed Boardman was caught for a superb 92 off only 107 balls, a fantastic innings which saw the trademark cut and cover drive put to full use.

Michael Dye joined Yates and smashed a quickfire 13 off seven balls which included consecutive fours against overseas player Tharaka before getting out two short of the total.

Yates, with 19, saw Swaffham home with 10 overs to spare to cap a strong display all round, leaving Swaffham just five points behind second-placed Hunstanton.